Notes Payable to Banks and Interest Bearing Accounts Payable to Sojitz Corporation of America (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	May 31, 2012		May 31, 2011
Notes payable:
Notes payable (Note 7)	$ 108		$ 187
Sojitz America	75		111
Sojitz America - interest rate	1.10%		0.99%
U.S. operations
Notes payable:
Notes payable	30		35
U.S. operations | Notes Payable
Notes payable:
Notes payable - interest rate	5.50%	[1]	0.00%	[1]
Non-U.S. operations
Notes payable:
Notes payable	$ 78		$ 152
Non-U.S. operations | Notes Payable
Notes payable:
Notes payable - interest rate	9.46%	[1]	7.05%	[1]

[1] Weighted average interest rate includes non-interest bearing overdrafts.